ramleh “valediction” compact disc

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second layer press release...

ramleh valediction second layer records after witnessing a whitehouse performance in 1982 gary mundy was inspired to found both the pivotal label broken flag, and ramleh – a power electronics project whose initial, hugely influential recordings and shows were violent sonic outbursts of desperate, confrontational and barely controlled screaming feedback with a slightly psychedelic edge. this first incarnation of ramleh, although rightly considered a seminal project in the power electronics scene, were only active for a mere two years (although much of their released material only surfaced after this period), and in 1984 the project was put on an indefinite hiatus. mundy, however, was keen to push on and investigate new territories, and ramleh was resurrected a couple of years later as an equally pioneering and influential improvised noise rock project who, along with ‘sister group’ skullflower, proceeded to send seismic tremors through the international noise underground that are still being felt (and perhaps only truly understood) today. in 1997, after a run of boundary-pushing singles and albums, this ‘rock’ version of ramleh was also laid to rest. however, some five years later, mundy decided to once again return to the project, and ramleh were reborn a second time. at first continuing in an improvised noise rock vein – albeit with a more driving, stripped down sound – and then, in 2008, finally returning to an exploration of their power electronics roots. now we are lucky enough to have both rock and power electronics incarnations of ramleh active concurrently – the former consisting of mundy along with long-term collaborator anthony di franco (ax, ethnic acid, jfk, skullflower etc.) on bass and martyn watts (danielle dax, breathless) on drums; and the latter of just mundy and di franco. after a new ‘rock’ 10-inch ep co-released earlier this year by black rose recordings and an also resurrected broken flag, second layer records are extremely proud to present valediction - the first all new ramleh album since 1997, and the first new power electronics recordings from the project for 25 years. and yet valediction is no ordinary “power electronics” record, nor is it anything as straightforward as simply a return to their roots. valediction is very much an entity of its own – both consolidating and expanding upon everything ramleh have touched on in the past, but also digging into entirely fresh ground for the band. valediction is, perhaps, ramleh’s most bleakly psychedelic creation so far.

skullflower “malediction” compact disc

• a'arab zaraq - ravens of the burning of god (24:16)
  
• ghost bitch of black flame (10:02)
  
• drenched in moonsblood (waxing gibbous) (17:45)